For David Price, Saturday was one of the toughest days he’s had in baseball.

About four hours before he was to start against the Yankees, Price learned that his close friend and former roommate Terry Wanthalangsy died from complications related to a brain tumor.

Price allowed five runs on seven hits in the first four innings against the Yankees, two coming on a long home run by rookie Gary Sanchez in the third inning. But the lefthander was able to finish six innings and the Sox came back to win the game, 6-5. He did not factor in the decision, not that it mattered.

“We tied the game and found a way to win. That was a very good win for us,’’ said Price, who pitched with “TW’’ written on the front of his cap.

In 2011, Price pitched six innings to beat the Sox on the day Wanthalangsy underwent his first surgery. The two had been friends since high school.

Red Sox manager John Farrell gave Price a chance to win the game, sending him out for the sixth inning with the team down by a run. Price allowed a leadoff single then retired three batters in a row. The Sox went ahead in the seventh inning.

“I felt good. I made some pitches here and there,’’ Price said. “I was pleased with every pitch, even the one to Sanchez. The only thing I would change is probably to throw a four-seam fastball instead of a two-seam. Still ended up in a good spot. That’s a good pitch and he’s a good player. You kind of tip your cap.’’

Kimbrel cleans up

Craig Kimbrel didn’t just have a four-out save. He struck out all four batters he faced on 21 pitches. Farrell called down to the bullpen in the seventh inning to tell his closer to be ready for extra duty.

“He was very good,’’ Farrell said. “Powerful.’’

Said Kimbrel: “It’s always nice to know ahead of time. I was able to come in and do a good job. I felt great.’’

Kimbrel has appeared in 16 games since coming off the disabled list on Aug. 1. He has allowed one earned run on five hits over 14⅓ innings and struck out 27.

“Our whole bullpen has been pitching well the last few weeks,’’ Kimbrel said. “That’s encouraging. This series has been fun.’’

Sox relievers have a 1.06 ERA this month and have struck out 56 over 42⅓ innings.

Day off for David?

David Ortiz was moving slowly when he arrived at Fenway just after 10 a.m.

“Today is a bad day to be 40 years old,’’ he said with a chuckle.

Don’t be surprised if Ortiz gets the game off on Sunday night. He is a career .237 hitter (18 of 76) against Yankees starter CC Sabathia. Plus the Sox will travel to Baltimore right after the game.

“I’ve got to check in with David. He’s been running a lot the last couple of days,’’ Farrell said.

Ortiz was 0 for 3 with a walk on Saturday. His ground out in the third inning drove in a run. Ortiz has 116 RBIs, his most since 2007 when he had 117.

Battered Bombers

Yankees second baseman Starlin Castro, who leads the team in home runs and RBIs, left the game in the fifth inning after straining his right hamstring going to second on a double. Center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury left the game in the eighth inning. He injured his right knee in the seventh inning trying to catch a ball off the bat of Xander Bogaerts.

Ellsbury slid into the padded wall in front of the Red Sox bullpen. He finished the inning but did not return.

Both players were sent back to New York for MRIs and are unlikely to play on Sunday.

“It’s not what you want and hopefully they’re not too severe and we’re not without them for a while,’’ Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “I’m pretty worried about Castro and that hamstring, the way he pulled up. Hopefully, Jake’s is just a bruise and a couple days off will help him.’’

Ellsbury is hitting .265 with nine home runs and 18 stolen bases this season.

He’s impressed

Farrell heard about how well Sanchez has been playing for the Yankees. Seeing the 23-year-old rookie catcher in person has driven the point home.

Sanchez is 4 for 14 in the series with two doubles, a home run, and four RBIs.

“They have one hell of a catcher. That’s a dangerous hitter,’’ Farrell said. “I think defensively he has been much more than maybe we had anticipated, the accuracy to his throws, the arm strength that he has, his blocking ability. He’s a front-line player. To be thrust in the middle of an order at this stage of his career, that speaks volumes.’’

Right side in rivalry

The Sox are 10-5 against the Yankees, 7-2 at Fenway Park . . . Until Saturday, the Sox had not won a game by one run since Aug 23. They had dropped seven straight one-run decisions . . . The Sox have won 16 of their last 18 day games at Fenway . . . Andrew Benintendi is 2 for 6 with two doubles and a walk since coming off the disabled list . . . Ty McFarlan, a ringmaster with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, sang the national anthem. The first pitch was thrown out by 19-year-old Julia Marino, who won the snowboard competition at the Big Air at Fenway event in February.

Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeteAbe.